We caught up with some of the most exciting acts to grace the stage at Ultra Singapore. Taking us from underground clubs to sky-high urban rainforests, we find these Grammy award-winning festival veterans to be a surprisingly a healthy bunch.
07 July, 2017
As
the holographic confetti settles after Singapore‘s freshest electronic music festival,
Ultra
Singapore, we caught up with some of the most exciting acts to
grace the stage. Taking us from underground clubs to sky-high urban
rainforests, we find these Grammy award-winning festival veterans to be a surprisingly a healthy bunch.
Before embarking on an impressive solo career, Dubfire made up
one half of Grammy award-winning duo Deep Dish. Between expanding
his cutting-edge label, SCI + TEC, Dubfire can be found tweeting
restaurant reviews and foodie titbits with hope of opening a
Japanese restaurant in LA. His documentary Above Ground Level also
recently premiered at Miami Film Festival.
By taking a treetop walk at MacRitchie Reservoir. Start at the country club
for a 6km trail that takes you through the rainforests at dizzying
heights. Watch the sun come up among birds, monkeys and lizards
just 15 minutes away from Orchard Road.
Capella Singapore is hands down the best hotel
in Singapore – especially if you snag one of their villas. Their
Sunday brunch is also pretty great.
Waku Ghin, Restaurant
André or Iggy’s all deserve a mention – but I’d suggest heading
to Lau Pa Sa Satay. Drink pitchers of beer on the streets from 7PM
’til late – it’s fun, if a little sweaty.
For quality underground music head to Headquarters by The Council in Boat Quay.
I don’t think I’ve ever ventured out for live music in
Singapore, so I’d love to know where myself!
It’s no secret that the year-round heat and humidity can be
unbearable in Singapore, so be sure to pack a hand fan. Gents can
slip it into their back pocket and the ladies can stuff it into
their purse – finally, a souvenir that’s useful.
I just finished watching the new documentary film on Nick Cave
called One More Time With Feeling so naturally I’ll be listening to
last years’ Skeleton Tree album.
Operation Dagger is the coolest basement bar in
Singapore. It’s a hard to find speakeasy where they distill their
own alcohol. The only street signs are a bunch of runic symbols
above a set of stairs.
Voted the world’s number one DJ two years in a row by DJ Mag and
mentored by Tiesto, it’s easy to see the impact Hardwell has had on
EDM. The Dutch-born DJ has had crowds jumping at Tomorrowland,
Ultra Music Festival, EDC and Creamfields. Summer 2017 sees him
return once again to the White Isle with regular sets at Amnesia and newly
opened super-club Hï.
After dropping my bags off at the hotel I’ll tag along with
someone else from the area to show me around. Singapore is a great
city, but because I’ve been a few times I’m always keen to see a
different side so I enlist the help of trusted locals.
The Esplanade Theatre is a stunning piece of architecture
and acoustically impressive. It would be an honour to perform a
show there one day. As an artist, you’re always looking for
incredible spaces to take your music and the Esplanade Theatre is
certainly one of those venues.
Travelling as much as I do it’s often difficult to find time to
relax and just enjoy yourself in nature. It’s especially hard to do
when in the middle of a city, but one of the things I love about
Singapore is the Gardens by the Bay. It’s right in the middle
and so easy to access. As it is such a great concept, I’d love to
see this incredible natural park appear across big cities around
the world.
Keep it simple and light. You’ll find yourself in and out of a
lot of shops.
It varies because I never know what music I’ll have at the time
and what the crowd will be like on the night. Right now I’m playing
around with a lot of new styles and have some super fresh
tracks.
Take a day to visit one of the southern islands like
Lazarus.
The French DJ, singer, songwriter and producer has previously
teamed up with an array of household names – Madonna, Bloc Party
and Laidback Luke to name a few. Catch him every Monday at
notorious Ibiza hotspot Pacha, where his energetic
residency My House finishes at sunrise.
Start with a run in the Southern Ridges, have lunch at Curry
Culture, get some rest and enjoy the Gardens by the Bay,
finished off by hanging around in Chinatown – with Singapore’s
cultural heritage, it makes for an enticing backdrop.
Marina Bay Sands as it’s the location for an
episode of the Smash series. The pool is also insane.
Check out the Thian Hock King Temple.
I work a lot on my Future Pop playlist that’s available on
Spotify. It’s really a collection of my favourite
chill-electro-hip-pop, so when I’m not performing that is what I
plug into.
Internationally acclaimed and Grammy-nominated, UK-born Nic
Fanciulli has worked with artists as diverse as Underworld, Kylie
Minogue, U.N.K.L.E and Loco Dice. Nic’s label Saved Records
continuously pushes the boundaries of underground house and techno
by breaking new artists and producers. Look out for his debut
album, My Heart, out 20 October.
For me it has to start with breakfast at Wild Honey, some
shopping on Orchard Road and then ending the day at a bar in
Sentosa like Coastes.
The Patina, Capitol Singapore.
Shinji by Kanesaka at Carlton Hotel is probably one of
the best sushi restaurants I’ve been too.
For me it has to be Zouk as I’ve been playing there since I was 21 and
I’ve never not had an amazing time.
Something light! Humidity in the city is crazy, but luckily most
of the shops and bars have air con.
I try not to listen to house music on my playlist, so it would
be mainly disco and funk. Anything from Nile Rogers always seems to
get me in a good mood.
The Library, an amazing little speakeasy bar in
the heart of Chinatown.
Famed for his collaborations with Rihanna, Calvin Harris, David
Guetta and Tiesto, the Dutch DJ is a regular on the festival scene
with performances at Coachella, EDC and Tomorrowland. His number
one single with Avicii “I Could be the One” stormed UK charts as
summer 2013’s soundtrack.
&SONS
has great food and live music.
Ce La Vi,
which was formerly Ku De Ta.
Bring a comfy pair of shoes, a nice pair of sunglasses,
swimsuits and definitely a light jacket if you’re visiting during
monsoon season.
These are amongst my most played: Corey James – Bring It, Tom
Tyger & Melsen – I Need U
and Linkin Park – Heavy ft. Kiiara (The Nicky Romero Remix).